The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-09-22
PRESIDENT CLEvELAND'S
RECORD,

Under this caption the "Grand Army
Gazette and National Guardsman", pgb-
lished In New York, (and now In the
14th year of its existence.) has in the
August number a remarkable editorial
article, which we here reproduce in full.
1t deserves TO be carefully reed and con-
sidered by all fair-mindeI persons.
The Gdze.e does not sympArhize with
indiScriminats attacks made upon the
President of the United States. While in
that position he represents before the WorId
the great american Republic, and his heus-
and dignity should be as dear to US as our
OWn. That he has made mistakes h
probable, for he is human, and that en-
tails a liability to err. But that he has
erred wilfully and knowingly we do not
believe, and he has been charged with
many things which the facts do not sus-
tain.
For instance, it has been loudly pro-
claimed that Mr.. Cleveland is hostile to
the old soldiers, and has lost NO oppor-
tunity to oppose legislation in their be-
half. Let us look at the facts in the case
and see if this sweeping assertion is
founded ON truth.
An investigation of the pension legis-
lation for the past seventeen years shows
that General Grant, from 1870 to 1877 in
elusive, period Of eight years, approved
4S5 private pension acts; President
Hayes, from 1877 to 1881, inclusive, a
period of four years, approved 303 pri-
vate pension acts; Presidents Garfield
and Arthur, from 1882 to 1885, inclusive,
a period of four years, approved 736 pri-
vate pension acts l0hiie President CleUe-
land, from 1886 to 1887, inci1siue, a period
Of only taOo years, has apProped s63 pripate
| pension acts.
This is Il more than President GRAFT and
Hayes approued in II years, aad I27 more
than Presidents Garfield and Arthur ap-
proUed IN years.
On the other hand the President has
vetoed 123 private pension bills and the
dependent pension bill. In the former
he undoubtedly acted in conformity
with his duty as it appeared to him from
the testim ony and documents submitted
to him, and has ueto Of tie depende,s. pension
bill sOas stOaon to be in accord with the pre-
| ponderating sentiment, not only Of the eouIs-
try at large, but Of the veterarss hensselces.
But there is other evidence OF the
Presidents friendly attitude towards
Union soldiers, He hos appoaeted more
ueterans to office than any other Presideat
To be sure, some old soldiers and sailors
of an opposite political faith have been
removed from office, but Re fact rena IN.
that more Ueteraas are 10 day holding o6icia
position under ahe Geperaanseat gsaa a! ans
precious portion Of our history. .-.a
The President also approved the bill
increasing the pension of widows, minors
and dependent relatives; the act in
creasing in large number of cases tn,
pensions of MANNED and crippled sol
diers and the act giving pension to tn,
survivors OF the war with Mexico, anG
the widows of deceased soldiers who tool
part in that struggle.
In view Of these facts, and OF the add
tional one, that never before, IN spite of III
rapidly increasing death rate, ,Oas there s
large number Of pensioners upon the roll
Of the Pension Bureau 0s noaO, is it no
about time to call halt, and ask th,
blatant demagogues who are making
these unfounded attacks 70 take a bael
seat? In the end those who make US
OF such mendacious methods will surel
be the sufferers, for the American peopl
is too Intelligent and too fond Of fai
play to be long made the victims of sucl
barefaced deception. s<s-ss